Hitter of the Day:
Hudson Potts, 3B, San Diego Padres (Low-A, Fort Wayne): 2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Some were surprised to see Potts go in the first round in 2016, but the Padres liked his youth, as well as his overall power potential. Potts, who has been playing in Low-A as an 18 year old, now has 17 homers on the year. While he can struggle with his hands from time to time, this kind of profile needs time to age and develop.
Pitcher of the Day:
Shane Bieber, RHP, Cleveland Indians (Double-A, Akron): 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K
The Indians 4th rounder in 2016, Bieber has pitched at three levels this year, while arguably having the most success at Double-A. Victor Filoromo saw him while was in High-A, and has the scoop for you here.
Other Notable Performances:
Gavin Lux, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers (Low-A, Great Lakes): 2-5, 2 R, 2 2B
One evaluator who saw Lux earlier this year compared him to a young Corey Seager, which is quite high praise.
Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets (Double-A, Binghamton): 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI
Jeffrey Paternostro and I disagree on Alonso. I believe in the bat enough that one can ignore his deficiencies at 1B, Jeffrey just doesn’t like the profile.
Sam Travis, 1B, Boston Red Sox (Triple-A, Pawtucket): 3-5, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB, K, SB
I think Jeffrey just wants Sam Travis to play 1B for the Mets, can you make this happen Dombrowski?
Royce Lewis, SS, Minnesota Twins (Low-A, Cedar Rapids): 3-4, 3 R, 3B, BB
With Wander Javier having a great season in Rookie ball, the Twins have a small conundrum of what to do with him and Lewis next year. If you want both to get SS reps, then one will stay in Extended, the other gets to go to Cedar Rapids. This is a good problem to have.
Tyler Nevin, 1B/3B, Colorado Rockies (Low-A, Asheville): 3-4, 2 R, 3B, RBI, BB
After missing most of the past season with hamstring injuries, Nevin is back, albeit at 1B and not so much 3B. With his size and power, Nevin should hit lots of home runs, that is, if his long swing and barrel control allow it to happen.
Blake Perkins, OF, Washington Nationals (Low-A, Hagerstown): 1-3, R, 2 BB, 2 SB
Perkins is my kind of player, switch hitter, plus runner, more power than you would think, and one who can go get it in the outfield. This is my kind of profile, he just needs to start making more contact, can you do that for me please?
David Hess, RHP, Baltimore Orioles (Double-A, Bowie): 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
While older, Hess has been able to figure out Double-A after struggling the previous season. His plus fastball comes at a high angle, ditto his average curve, but the profile looks more like a bullpen arm than a starter.
A.J. Alexy, RHP, Texas Rangers (Low-A, Hickory): 5 IP, H, 0 R, 4 BB, 8 K
Acquired in the Yu Darvish trade, this PA prep arm has taken a leap this year. With added maturity and growth have come more velocity and better consistency.
Joey Lucchesi, LHP, San Diego Padres (Double-A, San Antonio): 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K
Again, who taught this guy to throw a baseball? Whatever, no rules for lefties.
Aaron Civale, RHP, Cleveland Indians (High-A, Lynchburg): 7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
The Indians 3rd rounder from the 2016 draft, while he hasn’t gotten to Double-A like Bieber, it isn’t because he ain’t trying. Civale gets by without a premium fastball, instead relying on his premium off-speed offerings and his advanced command.
Michael Baumann, RHP, Baltimore Orioles (Short-Season, Aberdeen): 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
Baumann has the frame you like to see from starting pitchers (6-foot-4 225 pounds), the big fastball, and the usable secondaries. Now it is just a matter of putting it all together next year.
Jon Duplantier, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks (High-A, Visalia): 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K
Like this guy, he has put it together, good job again Jon.
Fight Another Day:
Dylan Cozens, OF, Philadelphia Phillies (Triple-A, Lehigh Valley): 0-5, 4 K
Sometimes, when you see your former teammate hit home runs at a Jeff Francouer-esque pace in the big leagues, you try to match that and end up striking out a bunch.
Stephen Gonsalves, LHP, Minnesota Twins (Triple-A, Rochester): 2/3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB
Perhaps he isn’t ready for the big leagues…
Grant Reuss, LHP, Detroit Tigers (Rookie, Gulf Coast West): 2/3 IP, H, R, ER, 2 BB, K
Listen, I want Reuss to do well, heck I want everyone to do well, but it has not been a good season for Reuss. With this outing here is his season’s stats. I have seen him pitch once and it wasn’t good, but while watching him pitch did I never think it was this bad. His delivery has a weird tempo, and his arm slot wandered on him, which is what is most likely leading to these walk totals. Sigh, fight another day kid.
Thank you for reading
This is a free article. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing to Baseball Prospectus. Subscriptions support ongoing public baseball research and analysis in an increasingly proprietary environment.
Subscribe now